IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 25, 25 October 1842, Page 3

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS. June 2. distress of the country. (From the Sydney Morning Herald.)

Lord Kinnaird then rose to bring forward the motion of which he had given notice relating to the distress which existed at the present time among the manufacturing population of the country. He commenced by expressing his belief that noble lords knew very little of the actual sufferings of the poorer classes of the people, and he should call the attention of their lordships to a few facts to show the state of their sufferings. With regard to the Queen’s letter, which had recently been issued, that was addressed solely to the members of the established church. Although he knew not on what grounds, unless it were to uphold that church to the prejudice of all other denominations of religious bodies. Thousands of persons had, for the last twelve months, been living on charity, and their necessities were so great that no poor law could relieve them; while the population had increased in a very large ratio, the increase in the customs’ duties had not at all been in the same proportion, which showed clearly that the means of the people to purchase had fallen off to an alarming extent. (Hear, hear.) Were their lordships aware that thousands of people existed upon Is. 2d. per week, with which they had to purchase food, lodging, and clothing! And, in consequence of this appalling state of things, myriads of men, women, and children, were consigned to hospitals and to .untimely graves ! The prisons were filled to overflowing; for where guant want, and poverty abounded, crime was sure to prevail! In many districts one-third and one-half of the population was permanently idle, and all trades were alike affected. This country.owed its present proud position to the industry of the forefathers of these poor men. The Americans had lately placed a heavy duty upon our goods, which had caused a corresponding decrease of consumption; and this, together with other restrictions, no doubt was the cause of the permanent decline in our commerce. In Leeds there were 9000 persons, of every trade, whose average weekly wages amounted to Is. per head!! Had meetings been convened for the purpose of affording relief to these poor people ? No ! During this state of things wheat had risen; and the people were called upon to pay this out of their, {diminished incomes, and how was that to be done ? By diminishing the incomes, means of providing employment was reduced. He complained that for the want of acting upon some fixed principle, in imposition of duties, commerce was paralysed, and the confidence of the country unsettled ; and he considered the duties imposed to be extremely injudicious in many instances. If he saw his beloved wife and children starving around him, and he knew he should be better off in gaol, he should prefer the latter (laughter.) It was very well in the noble lords to laugh, who enjoyed all the luxuries of life! but let them put themselves, for a moment, in the situation of these unfortunate people—let them view their sufferings—their deep misery; and they would sympathise with them. Let them make a searching inquiry ; let them have occular demonstration of the fact; and the poor people would have their sympathy. What we wanted was new and extended markets. There was a vast population on the banks of the Mississippi, where there was no manufactures, and no produce but cotton and a little Indian corn, who would be giad to exchange their productions for our manufactures. More than four millions of people would be glad to supply us with a mar-

kef: He would move for a committee to inquire into the cause of the present state of general distress.

The Duke of Wellington said, that every one admitted the existence of great distress in the country; but they ought to consider how it could be alleviated. The law recognised the principle of sending pecuniary relief, and rates in aid were levied, according to law. Her Majesty’s government took the course which had been adopted on former occasions. A letter had been sent to the Archbishop of Canterbury, which he thought had been approved of. He thought the noble lord (Kinnaird) had gone a little beyond what he had authority for stating. Her Majesty had acted judiciously in adopting the course she did for the relief of the prevailing distress. He disapproved of a committee to enquire into the causes of the distress, when the existence of it was admitted on all hands. The noble lord (Kinnaird) had strenuously advocated a repeal of the corn laws. Now, if an alteration was to be made in those laws, let it be after a full and fair discussion ,* but committees often created great excitement in the countrythe income of the country should be made to defray its own expenditure, and the interest of the national debt. The finances of the country ought to be placed upon a proper basis; —upon the basis on which they ought always to have stood, and then they will have the means of repealing many taxes on consumption, and manufacturing produce. By thus improving the means of manufacture, the alteration in the tariff was of vast importance to the trade of the country. It was owing to the pressure upon commerce, and not to the want of extended markets, that the trade was so depressed. Her Majesty’s government had been engaged in political arrangements, having for their object to keep the peace of the world; and he anticipated a speedy restoration of peace to countries at present afflicted by the scourge of war. All these things will be beneficial to the interests of commerce. The Earl of Radnor vindicated his noble friend (Lord K.), from the aspersions of the Duke of Wellington. He said that liis noble friend had merely advocated an inquiry into the causes of the prevailing distress. The noble duke should not refuse an enquiry, because it might ultimately be found that the corn laws were the cause of the evil.

The Duke of Richmond deprecated all sudden changes, because they would inflict distress upon the agriculturists. He agreed to the judicious distribution of the public funds, in cases of this nature, under responsible officers. After a short discussion between the Marquis Clanricarde, Lord Monteagle, and the Duke of Wellington,

Lord Kinnaird consented to withdraw his motion; and their lordships adjourned, at halfpast eight o’clock.